Windermere leaders review mid-year report

The Windermere Town Council hosted a virtual workshop Tuesday, May 28, to discuss the Fiscal Year 2023-24 mid-year budget report.

Town Manager Robert Smith reviewed both the town’s revenues and expenditures. 

Overall, the total budgeted revenues for the town are $16,081,141, with the estimated revenues at $16,318,453.83. The total budgeted expenditures for the town are $16,018,141, with the estimated expenditures being $15,692,997.27.

The budgeted difference is zero, and the estimated difference is $625,456.56, which would be transferred to reserves. The town currently has around $2.3 million in reserves to use for the next fiscal year. 

“This gives you a look of where we are in the current budget year and what we’re looking at by the end of the fiscal year,” Smith said. “This also gives us somewhat of a road map for next fiscal year and hopefully, possibly, the next five years, depending on what projects we’re able to go ahead and fund.”

REVENUES REPORT

Smith said the town uses conservative estimates by looking not only five years but also 10 years in the past.

The biggest budget categories included $3,391,806, property tax; $3,081,000, state appropriations for potable water; $1,500,000, state appropriations for roads; $1,391,295, CARES ACT — American Recovery Act; and $1,000,000, state appropriations for multimodal.

Overall, the town budgeted $16,018,140.60 in revenues, with the actual amount being $5,286,169.43 and the estimated amount being $16,318,453.83, a difference of $300,313.23. 

EXPENDITURES

Smith next reviewed the expenditures report, touching on categories including legislative, administration, finances and public works.

The biggest budgeted legislative categories included $200,000, Windermere Wine & Dine; $20,000, Centennial Celebration; and $15,000, Holiday Social.

In total, the town budgeted $261,445 in legislative, with the actual amount being $105,381.71 and the estimated amount being $275,357.64, a difference of $13,912.64.

The biggest budgeted administration categories included salaries, $258,815, and legal fees, $100,000.

Overall, the town budgeted $631,822.25 in administration, with the actual amount being $453,337.84 and the estimated amount being $807,446.37, a difference of $175,624.12.

In total, the town budgeted $133,356.80 for the clerk, with the actual amount being $520,528.17 and the estimated amount being $942,032.59, a difference of $1,229.42.

Overall, the town budgeted $1,022,842.08 in finance, with the actual amount being $599,566.90 and the estimated amount being $1,013,848.47, a difference of $8,993.61.

In total, the town budgeted $320,000 in development services, with the actual amount being $219,838.38 and the estimated amount being $370,000, a difference of $50,000.

The biggest budgeted public works categories included $3,081,000, potable water design; $1,950,000, multimodal; $1,500,000, Windermere Road/Main Street roundabouts; and $1,391,295, American Recovery Act.

Overall, the town budgeted $10,785,681.26 for public works expenditures, with the actual amount being $138,452.60 and the estimated amount being $10,258,967.16, a difference of $526,714.10.

For parks and recreation, the town budgeted $68,500, with the actual amount being $23,358.16 and the estimated amount being $70,000, a difference of $1,500.

The biggest budgeted police categories included $1,015,904.45, salaries, and $800,000, fire service assessment. 

For police, the town budgeted $2,629,793.50, with the actual amount being $1,286,176.59 and the estimated amount being $2,518,872.33, a difference of $110,921.17.

For code enforcement, the town budgeted $22,200, with the actual amount being $7,962.45 and the estimated amount being $15,169.08, a difference of $7,030.92.

For boards and committees, the town budgeted $142,500, with the estimated amount being $228,750, a difference of $86,250.

LOOKING AHEAD

Smith said the total amounts do not include the money the town owes Healthy West Orange for the failed pavilion project, which is still being negotiated.

“With conservative estimates of revenues and controlling expenditures, the town should be in a good financial position for Fiscal Year 2024-25, transferring a balance of $625,456.56 into reserves,” he said. “Staff continues to submit for reimbursements related to grants awarded. Those revenues are not reflected. The balance of the ARPA funds are not accounted for, since they are reimbursable and rolled over to Fiscal Year 2024-25. The balance of $760,000 in SRS funds also will be rolled over, as well as the balance of state appropriations.” 

Smith said the draft budget for the next fiscal year already is in the works.

Projects that should be fully funded next year without any requests for mileage increase include the Butler and Bessie basin stormwater and potable water systems, the Old Dirt Road Main paving and potable water system, Phase 1 of Ward Trail, pedestrian bridge construction, and the Windermere Road and Main Street intersection improvements. 

Over the last three years, the town has received or been committed $14,602,400 in grants or appropriations.